Aside from home security, a driveway alarm can be the best way to know when trick-or-treaters are coming to your door this Halloween, giving you extra seconds to scramble off the couch to grab the candy bowl. Whether you prefer audible driveway alarms that beep or play a melody when movement or heat are detected or a smart alarm that will send you push notifications, ZDNET has gathered the best options available, no matter what your setup is. Also: These home security systems are reliable, versatile, and easy to set up
Power source: Battery-poweredMax wireless range: 500 feetMaximum detection range: 40 feetColor: Black and copperSensor type: Heat and motion
This driveway alarm can be installed on your home or a post outside of it, in order to allow it the most visibility of incomers. It has three levels of sensitivity ranging from low to high, the highest being up to 40 feet, so you can select the right amount of coverage for your property. When you set up your alarm, you’ll get alerted of any detected motion by a melody that plays on the receiver. The Guardline 500ft range alarm has over 30 melodies to choose from, with the option add up to 16 sensors for different areas around your home, each with its own melody. The wireless range means that the receiver needs to be placed within 500 feet of the sensor, which is something to consider when setting it up. If you have a long driveway and want to place this at the end of it, by the street, then you may need an alarm that covers over 500 feet.
Power source: Battery-poweredMax wireless range: 600 feetMaximum detection range: 20 feetColor: BlackSensor type: Microwave and infrared
Bistee’s driveway alarm is a good starting option for anyone on a budget. With a maximum detection range of 20 feet, this is the perfect sensor for a smaller driveway or coverage area like a front porch or patio, especially at only $20. The sensor is powered by 4 AA batteries and has an IP44 waterproof rating, making it weatherproof for outdoor use. The receiver needs to be plugged in indoors within 600 feet of the sensor, making for an easy installation.
Power source: Battery-poweredMax wireless range: 1 mileMaximum detection range: 100 feetColor: Tan sensor and white receiverSensor type: Infrared
The Dakota DCMA-4000 is the best option for long-range monitoring as it allows up to one mile between the sensor installed outside and the receiver inside. If you have a long driveway or a larger property to cover, this option was made for you. The long-range monitoring makes for more reliable alerts, effectively reducing false alarms. This is especially true as it detects movement in a coverage area of up to 100 feet from the sensor. The sensor uses a 9-volt battery, while the indoor receiver is connected to power. The receiver can handle up to 16 different Dakota sensors, in case you want to add extra monitoring to areas surrounding your property.
Power source: Battery-poweredMax wireless range: 1320 feetMaximum detection range: 30 feetColor: Gray and whiteConnectivity: Wifi
Driveway alarms work by playing an audible alert in your home when motion is detected by the sensor outside. Personally, I prefer a silent-type of alarm, like a phone notification, since with three kids and a dog I don’t need more noise in my house. So I’m a fan of smart alarms instead of the traditional ones. Yolink’s driveway alarm is the best smart option because it doesn’t require a specific home automation system to be installed or purchased separately. It comes with a receiver that connects to wifi and the sensor which is mounted outside. The receiver works like all the other driveway alarm receivers, with the exception that it’s wifi-enabled, so when you install it you can connect it to the internet so you can easily receive mobile notifications of any motion detection. The Yolink driveway alarm can be integrated with Alexa or IFTTT, and has customizable audio. You could even set up custom Halloween anouncements by uploading an MP3 file and setting it as your alert.
Power source: Battery-poweredMax wireless range: 1 mileMaximum detection range: 10-12 feetColor: WhiteSensor type: Metal-detecting probe
The Dakota Alert DCPA-4k Plus wireless driveway alarm consists of a probe that you can bury underground to detect incoming vehicles, the probe is connected to 50ft of direct burial cable to transmit the signal to the receiver. The receiver can be placed up to a mile away and still sound reliable alerts when a vehicle is near the probe. This is perfect for gravel driveways, especially in larger properties. However, you can bury the probe next to a concrete or asphalt driveway and it will detect vehicles within 10-12 feet. This Dakota Alert driveway alarm only has a metal sensor, so it won’t detect any people or large animals like deer or bears. This makes it more suitable for those who don’t want false alarms from animals on their property and only want to receive alerts when a car is coming. It’s also right down the middle in wireless range, a perfect fit for the majority of homes that don’t require one mile of wireless range. If you have a long gravel driveway you want to be alerted of any motion detected, then the Dakota Alert DCMA-4000 is a good choice. If, however, this sounds like your property but you only want to know when a vehicle is detected, splurging for the Dakota Alert DCPA-4k Plus may be the best option. Personally, I prefer an alert to come as a notification on my phone or Apple Watch, so I know I’ll always get it no matter where I am and that it won’t be a loud noise in my home, so I prefer a smart option like Yolink’s outdoor sensor. Taking great care to find the driveway alarms that are worth our readers’ hard-earned money, we looked at accuracy in motion detection, reliability in everyday use, weatherproofing, detection range and wireless range. Each driveway alarm has a specific range of both maximum coverage area and maximum distance between the receiver and the sensor. The maximum coverage area is the area the sensor is monitoring for motion, this would be a driveway, front porch or front or back yard. The maximum distance between the receiver and the sensor, also known as wireless range, determines how far you can place the receiver from the sensor for them to stay connected and the alerts from motion detection to come through to the receiver. Our top pick out of the smart options, the YoLink Outdoor motion sensor & SpeakerHub is worth highlighting because it comes with a receiver that doubles as a hub for a low price, making it a good choice for those that don’t want to add a complete home automation system to their homes. It has sound and voice alerts, as well as Alexa and IFTTT integrations though. If you only want a mobile notification when there is someone on your driveway, simply getting an outdoor motion sensor compatible with your current home automation system is enough. Ring has some outdoor motion detectors and is Alexa-compatible, Eve has HomeKit-enabled motion detectors, and if you have a Philips Hue hub at home, you can add this motion detector. The receiver just needs to be plugged in inside your home, then follow any manufacturer’s instructions if pairing or wifi connectivity is required.
